MA Translation and Adaptation Studies

At the heart of the programme are two compulsory elements: a core course which introduces students to modern translation theory, from linguistic approaches to recent postcolonial critiques; and a dissertation, constituting either a research thesis or an extended translation/adaptation and commentary. Beyond these elements, the programme is distinguished by its flexibility, offering several pathways for students based on their expertise and career goals. Those interested primarily in translation, for instance, might supplement the core with an option in translation and literary theory, and/or an option in practical Translation Skills, in which students can build a portfolio of their own translation work. Similarly, for those more drawn to adaptation, an adaptation theory module and an applied module in adaptation through scriptwriting are both available. Students will additionally have access to a wide range of modules from across Queen Mary’s various Schools in the Humanities and Social Sciences. We may also, depending on staff availability, be able to offer linguistic expertise in Hindi and Urdu. It is also a thoroughly global programme: the teaching staff, which includes prizewinning translators, offer expertise in theories and practices of translation from all over the world, including China and the Middle East, and linguistic expertise in Arabic and Chinese as well as Catalan, French, Spanish, German, Russian, and Portuguese.